Doney Family History
Doney Name Meaning
English (Cornwall): of uncertain origin. There is a Richard Donowe recorded in 1451-64 as a tenant in Manuels Saint Columb Minor whose surname appears to be a pet form of an unidentified personal name with the Cornish hypocoristic suffix -ow. Formally this might have become Doney but Donowe itself seems not to have survived unless it was altered to Downey . However there is no evidence to suggest any connection of this west Cornwall surname with Doney in central and east Cornwall (Bodmin and Quethiock). Alternatively perhaps it is a variant of the Devon name Downey and with the main vowel shortened and lowered but evidence for this is lacking. Americanized form of French Canadian Daunais or Donais .
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022